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PRESS RELEASE: Two Soldiers killed in Afghanistan

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Feb. 14, 2014) - Two Special Forces Soldiers were killed February 12, 2014, during a small-arms engagement in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. The Soldiers were members of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Soldiers killed were:

Spc. John Alexander Pelham

Spc. John A. Pelham, 22, of Portland, Ore., died Feb. 12, 2014, of wounds received from small-arms fire in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan.

Pehlam enlisted as a signal intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army in July 2011. He completed initial entry training at Fort Jackson, S.C., followed by advanced individual training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

In February 2013, he arrived to his first duty assignment with 3rd SFG (A) and was recently assigned to the unit’s 2nd Battalion.

Pelham’s military education includes Basic Combat Training, the Signal Analyst Course, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Combat Lifesaver Course.

Pelham’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

Skelt was assigned to Company A,, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C., and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan.

Skelt enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1990 as a signal support systems specialist. He completed initial entry training at Fort Jackson, S.C., followed by advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Ga. He went on to serve at several duty stations in the United States and overseas.

In 2005, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a Special Forces engineer sergeant and was assigned to Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd SFG (A), deploying with them twice to Afghanistan and once to Yemen.

Skelt went on to serve at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (A), Fort Bragg. Upon successfully completing those assignments, he was recently reassigned to 3rd SFG (A).

Skelt’s military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Senior Leader Course, the Physical Surveillance Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Signal Support Systems Course, and Basic Combat Training.

Skelt’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster), the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Achievement Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), the National Defense Service Medal (2nd Award), the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), the Overseas Service Ribbon (4th Award), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal (2nd Award), the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his wife and two sons, his parents, a brother and two sisters.